WHAT EVERY RPBO VOLUNTEER
NEEDS TO KNOW

 

Volunteers are required to become RPBO members. Your membership fees cover insurance costs and include a membership in BCNature.

Protocol

Volunteering at a bird monitoring station is fun, but most importantly, we are there to collect important information for bird conservation. This means that we must follow a standardized protocol for each our our projects. Protocols govern start and end times, observation periods, types of equipment used, and data requirements, among many other things. We strongly encourage you to read the appropriate protocol before you begin volunteering for RPBO, and then again at least once during each project season. If you are volunteering for more than one project, it's quite easy to forget which procedure applies to which project.

RPBO Migration Monitoring Protocol
MAPS Protocol (Full manual available here)

Scheduling

Our Volunteer Co-ordinator is responsible for scheduling migration monitoring, MAPS and nocturnal owl monitoring. The coordinator can be contacted by e-mail at volunteer@rpbo.org. Hummingbird monitoring occurs at many sites and scheduling is done by the bander for each site. Please contact hummingbird@rpbo.org for information on volunteering for the Hummingbird Project of British Columbia. Registered volunteers may schedule themselves using our online scheduling system, WhenToHelp.

If you are volunteering at the Rocky Point Ammunition Depot site, please remember that you are visiting a military establishment and access is tightly restricted and monitored. Volunteers must be on the access list for Rocky Point and are not permitted to make unscheduled visits.

Before arriving for your scheduled time at RPBO, please become familiar with our Protocol, available to read online or you can download and print the PDF copy. (2.1mb) You can also contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator. At the banding station the Bander-in-charge (BIC) will give further instructions for various aspects of the day's activities (i.e. census taking, scribing, bird extractions, handling nets, etc.). Please follow those instructions and ask the BIC or another experienced volunteer if you are uncertain about anything.

Because RPBO is located on Department of National Defence lands, access is restricted. All volunteers must therefore have been scheduled by the volunteer coordinator who will ensure that their name is included on a register at the Main Gate. All personnel must sign in and out at the guard house located by the Main Gate.

Operations

THE BANDER-IN-CHARGE IS IN CHARGE:

The first thing to do when you arrive on-site is find the Bander-in-Charge, introduce yourself if this is your first meeting, and get instructions. Even if you have vast experience with other banding operations or from previous years at RPBO, you may not open nets or handle birds without explicit permission from the BIC. Once the BIC gets to know you and your capabilities, this may change, at his or her discretion.

BIRD WELFARE:

The welfare of the birds is our primary concern. If you see something that concerns you, please bring it to the attention of the BIC immediately.

 

 

CONDUCT WHILE AT THE BANDING STATION:

When birds are being processed, the atmosphere in the vicinity of the banding station should be one of respectful calm so that the bander can concentrate, the scribe can hear to capture the data, and the bird-in-hand is not stressed. Also, if you wish to communicate with the BIC or other volunteers at the station, please wait for an appropriate opening before speaking. (E.g., when a bird has just been released, or the bander is not in the middle of a measurement, etc.).

Special considerations for Department of National Defence Lands

WE ARE GUESTS ON DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE LAND:

In order to maintain a healthy relationship with DND it is imperative that personnel treat the site with care and respect. Any behaviour by RPBO personnel that may jeopardize this relationship is unacceptable.

Some guidelines expected of RPBO personnel are as follows:

• Fire prevention is imperative.
• All garbage must be disposed of off-site.
• Minimize impact on the habitat.
• Drive slowly (30 KPH - max.).
• Treat all DND personnel respectfully.
• Be amicable to visitors and be willing to discuss the project with those whom are interested.
• Do not enter any DND buildings on site.
• Do not enter restricted areas. This includes the fenced-off area to the west of the banding operation, the main jetty which you pass on your way to the banding area, the PMQ's (i.e. residences) outside of the main gate, and any "No-Go Zones" as indicated with Siebert stakes. (see below).
• Report any suspicious behaviour or items which may concern DND.

 

NO - GO ZONES AND SIEBERT STAKES

No-Go Zones are marked on the sensitive areas maps and also are marked in the field. Siebert Stakes are used to mark the areas in the field. These stakes are currently being used by CFB Esquimalt to mark No-Go Zones.

A Seibert Stake consists of an eight-foot metal T-post driven two feet into the ground with a 17-inch section of 2-1/2 inch white PVC pipe attached at the top. Four bands of alternating red and yellow reflective tape circle the pipe but not completely, thus leaving a narrow vertical white stripe down the pipe (Figure 1). The stakes are positioned around the perimeter of the No-Go Zone with the vertical white stripe facing into the No-Go Zone. Generally, the stakes are placed about 10 m apart around the perimeter although the actual distance between stakes may be different, being influenced by the conditions around and between stakes. Each stake is readily visible from the stakes on either side of it. The reflective tape increases their visibility at night.

The perimeter of the No-Go Zone was chosen so that the zone covers the entire habitat to be protected and that activities along the perimeter will not affect the conditions within the No-Go Zone. The stakes are positioned along the perimeter so that they are readily visible from each other as well as being readily visible when they are being approached from outside the zone.

When Seibert Stakes are approached, the red and yellow sticker will appear with no vertical white stripe visible. However, if you enter a No-Go Zone, the vertical white stripe through the red and yellow sicker on the Seibert Stakes will be visible (Figure 1). To transit around a No-Go Zone, simply follow the stakes around the perimeter.

Figure 1. Siebert Stakes
Outside No-Go Zone		Inside No-Go Zone

If someone finds that they have entered the No-Zone they should stop and assess the situation for damage and then leave the zone the way they came into it.   They should then inform Range Control that they have entered a No-Go Zone and state if damage was done.

(Text and Photographs courtesy of Pacific Forestry Centre)

READ THE RPBO FIRE SAFETY POLICY AND PROCEDURES

BACK TO THE ONLINE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the banding site?
Unfortunately, public transport to the site is not available, therefore a vehicle is required. Volunteers are encouraged to coordinate with others accessing the site in order to reduce the number of cars travelling in and out on a daily basis. The observatory is situated on DND land. Be advised that since 9/11, DND lands are under an increased security posture. For this reason volunteers may be subject to search when entering DND lands.

Refer to the map for details:

From Victoria take Hwy. 1 west of town to Hwy 1A and 14. Follow Hwy 14 (Sooke Road) to Happy Valley Road then turn left. Follow Happy Valley Road to Rocky Point Road, turn right. Keep on Rocky Point Road to just past the Pedder Bay Marina where you will see the sign indicating a left turn into the "Ammo Depot". At the main gates, stop at the guardhouse to sign in, then continue through the gate on the gravel road to the east (be sure to leave the gate closed if it was closed upon entry). Follow the road as it winds around to the south, continuing straight at the stop sign and at the next intersection in the midst of the old growth firs. The volunteer coordinator or one of the staff/volunteers will tell you where to park. There may be a five-minute walk between the parking location and the banding area.

What will I be doing at the site?
The tasks that you will be asked to do by the bander-in-charge will vary depending on the needs of the day, your skill set and the skills of other volunteers on site. If you are familiar with western birds, you will be asked to take note of the birds you see or hear, and possibly be asked to complete a daily census. If you have sufficient experience at RPBO or other banding stations, you may be asked to help with extracting birds from mistnets or banding. If you are new to field work or do not wish to handle birds, you may assist by serving as scribe, recording data provided by the bander. New volunteers will also likely shadow more experienced volunteers to learn how to do the various jobs. Site maintenance, including net lane trimming, net repair, bird bag preparation, and garbage removal, is the responsibility of all volunteers.

What should I wear?
The temperature often fluctuates widely over a single banding session. The mornings are usually quite cold, even in mid summer, due to time of day and the proximity to ocean. However, by net-closing time, it can be scorching hot. Therefore, we recommend that you dress in multiple layers keeping in mind the season and current weather conditions and wear sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots. Also, although we suspend banding operations when it's raining, it's wise to have rain gear on hand so you don't get wet while waiting out a squall or while walking the census route.

What should I bring with me for the day?
Please note that RPBO is at a remote location with no amenities, so you will want to bring everything you might need for the day. We suggest that that this include: water or other beverages, lunch and snacks, binoculars, spotting scope (if you have one), a field guide to western North American birds, a small note pad and pen, sun screen, a hat with visor and/or a warm hat (depending on the weather), and a variety of clothing options (see above). Some seasoned volunteers bring a small folding chair. IMPORTANT: If you require special medications or have allergies, remember to bring the appropriate medications with you. In the event of a medical emergency, a response team could not arrive on-site very quickly.

Do I receive reimbursement for travel?
At this time, no. However, we encourage you to keep track of the number of kilometres travelled per trip to and from RPBO, and the dates you volunteered. If you submit a signed Mileage Claim Form with this information, RPBO will issue you a tax receipt for a charitable donation at the end of the season. Copies of this form are available in PDF online or by contacting Tom Gillespie.

Is overnight accommodation available on site?
There is no accommodation on site. Camping is available nearby at Pedder Bay Marina.

 

(If you came to this page from the Volunteer Application form, click the "ONLINE" link below)

 

Volunteer Application forms:	ONLINE	PDF
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